Armenia

Last updated: June 10, 2026

Armenia is a landlocked nation in the South Caucasus region of Western Asia, bordered by Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey. With a population of approximately 3 million, Armenia is one of the world’s oldest Christian civilizations, having adopted Christianity as its state religion in 301 CE—the first country to do so. The capital and largest city is Yerevan, located in the central part of the country. Armenia’s geography is characterized by the Armenian Highlands, a mountainous region with an average elevation exceeding 1,600 meters. The country is known for its rich cultural heritage, including ancient churches, monasteries, and archaeological sites. Armenia is a member of numerous international organizations including the United Nations, World Trade Organization, and the Eurasian Economic Union.

In the context of Groong’s coverage, Armenia is a landlocked South Caucasus republic facing an acute strategic and political crisis. Since the 2020 44-Day War , the country has lost control of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) and hundreds of square kilometers of territory to Azerbaijan, undergone the complete ethnic cleansing of more than 150,000 Armenian inhabitants from Artsakh, and seen its borders redrawn under duress. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his Civil Contract party have governed through this catastrophe while pursuing what opponents describe as a capitulation strategy: signing ceasefire agreements, negotiating territorial concessions, and attempting to normalize relations with Turkey despite no reciprocal gesture. The government frames this course as realism and peace-building; critics argue it surrenders Armenian sovereignty without securing the rights or security of displaced Artsakhtsis. Armenia’s relationship with its traditional security guarantor Russia has deteriorated sharply, while its pivot toward the European Union and United States remains hesitant and incomplete, leaving the country in a precarious middle position between Moscow and the West.

Domestic politics in Armenia since 2021 have been dominated by the opposition’s demand for Pashinyan’s resignation and accountability for the war’s loss. The Established Opposition parties—Strong Armenia , Armenia Alliance (Hayastan Dashinq) , Prosperous Armenia , and the Republican Party of Armenia —have held street protests, mounted electoral challenges, and attempted to build coalitions for the June 7, 2026 parliamentary elections. Civil Contract’s supermajority in parliament has allowed it to pass constitutional amendments, strip opposition figures of immunity, and advance its agenda despite sustained criticism over corruption, misuse of administrative resources, and alleged election irregularities. The government has also escalated confrontation with the Armenian Church , arresting clergy, seizing church property, and pressuring the Catholicos , actions that have alarmed international observers and divided public opinion. Simultaneously, Pashinyan has consolidated control over state institutions, including the judiciary and security services, raising concerns about democratic backsliding and rule of law.

Armenia’s economy remains fragile. Growth statistics mask structural weaknesses: the country is heavily dependent on remittances and Russian trade, faces declining foreign investment, carries rising national debt, and has seen its ties to Iran—a key trade and energy partner—complicated by U.S. pressure over TRIPP, the so-called Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity . The project aims to open transport corridors through Armenian territory in Syunik province, a move that would connect Azerbaijan to Turkey via Armenian land and raise questions about Armenian sovereignty over the route and control of its security. Russia has shifted from enthusiastic support of the corridor to public ambivalence, while Iran has issued explicit warnings that it will not accept any arrangement that bypasses or threatens its interests. The competing pressures from Washington, Moscow, Tehran, and Baku leave Armenia’s leadership navigating impossible choices between security guarantees that do not yet exist and economic partnerships that require territorial and strategic concessions it is reluctant to make permanent. The 2026 election will determine whether Armenian voters remain committed to Pashinyan’s course or whether opposition forces can forge a unified alternative around themes of security, sovereignty, and the rights of displaced Artsakhtsis to return home.

Groong episodes that include this tag

Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Armenia.

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenia-Azerbaijan “Treaty”: Concessions, secrecy, opposition backlash.
  • Preconditions for Peace: OSCE Minsk dissolution, constitutional changes.
  • Ukraine War Talks: Jeddah negotiations, UAV attacks, Trump-Putin call.
  • Witkoff’s Baku Stop: Mysterious visit raising geopolitical questions.

Episode 423 | Recorded: March 17, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Ceasefire Terms:
  • Negotiation Dynamics
  • Posturing & International Pressure
  • Risks & Challenges

Episode 422 | Recorded: March 12, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Ceasefire Terms:
  • Negotiation Dynamics
  • Posturing & International Pressure
  • Risks & Challenges

Episode 422 | Recorded: March 12, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Abkhaz Elections & Regional Implications – The second round of Abkhazia’s presidential elections, the impact of mass protests, and what Badra Gunba’s victory means for the region.
  • Armenian Hostages in Baku – Ongoing trials of Armenian POWs and former Artsakh leaders, reports of torture, and international calls for independent medical evaluations.
  • Protests in Yerevan Over POWs – Civil society and opposition-led demonstrations demanding stronger government action and international intervention.
 Read More

Guest:

Topics:

  • Abkhaz Elections & Regional Implications – The second round of Abkhazia’s presidential elections, the impact of mass protests, and what Badra Gunba’s victory means for the region.
  • Armenian Hostages in Baku – Ongoing trials of Armenian POWs and former Artsakh leaders, reports of torture, and international calls for independent medical evaluations.
  • Protests in Yerevan Over POWs – Civil society and opposition-led demonstrations demanding stronger government action and international intervention.
 Read More

Guest:

Topics:

  • US Foreign Policy Under Trump
  • Transactional Foreign Policy
  • Trump’s Cabinet & Policy Shifts
  • US-Armenia Relations

Episode 420 | Recorded: February 27, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • US Foreign Policy Under Trump
  • Transactional Foreign Policy
  • Trump’s Cabinet & Policy Shifts
  • US-Armenia Relations

Episode 420 | Recorded: February 27, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Jean-Daniel Ruch’s Career & Background
  • The Role of Diplomacy in Conflict Resolution
  • Western Democracy Promotion & Geopolitical Power Plays
  • The War in Ukraine & Failed Peace Efforts
  • US & European Geopolitical Strategies
  • The International Criminal Court & Selective Justice
  • The Artsakh Conflict & Armenian Displacement

Episode 419 | Recorded: February 27, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Jean-Daniel Ruch’s Career & Background
  • The Role of Diplomacy in Conflict Resolution
  • Western Democracy Promotion & Geopolitical Power Plays
  • The War in Ukraine & Failed Peace Efforts
  • US & European Geopolitical Strategies
  • The International Criminal Court & Selective Justice
  • The Artsakh Conflict & Armenian Displacement

Episode 419 | Recorded: February 27, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Ukraine Negotiations in Riyadh
  • Edgar Ghazayan Bullied by the Government
  • Robert Kocharyan Press Conference
  • Yerevan Bus Fares

Episode 418 | Recorded: February 24, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Ukraine Negotiations in Riyadh
  • Edgar Ghazayan Bullied by the Government
  • Robert Kocharyan Press Conference
  • Yerevan Bus Fares

Episode 418 | Recorded: February 24, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • TBD

Episode 417 | Recorded: February 12, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • TBD

Episode 417 | Recorded: February 12, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • World Politics
  • Plan, or No Plan?
  • Corridor Talk
  • Domestic Politics

Episode 416 | Recorded: February 17, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • World Politics
  • Plan, or No Plan?
  • Corridor Talk
  • Domestic Politics

Episode 416 | Recorded: February 17, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Think Tanks: Defining the Problem
  • Media Manipulation, NGOs, and Colored Coups
  • Reforming the Think Tank Industry

Episode 415 | Recorded: February 6, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Think Tanks: Defining the Problem
  • Media Manipulation, NGOs, and Colored Coups
  • Reforming the Think Tank Industry

Episode 415 | Recorded: February 6, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • A New Détente?
  • The Trump-Putin Call
  • Russia’s Strategic Choices
  • Russo-Armenian Relations
  • Russo-Azerbaijani Relations
  • Georgia’s Pragmatism

Episode 414 | Recorded: Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • A New Détente?
  • The Trump-Putin Call
  • Russia’s Strategic Choices
  • Russo-Armenian Relations
  • Russo-Azerbaijani Relations
  • Georgia’s Pragmatism

Episode 414 | Recorded: Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025

A New Détente? The Trump-Putin Call. Russia’s Strategic Choices. Russo-Armenian Relations. Russo-Azerbaijani Relations. Georgia’s Pragmatism.

Guest:

  • Anna Karapetyan Director of the Insight Analytical Center for Applied Policy and Research.

Topics:

  • Pashinyan in DC
  • Trump Sanctions the ICC
  • Azerbaijani Diplomacy in Action
  • Workers Strike at Zangezur Mining Co.

Episode 413 | Recorded: February 11, 2025

Guest:

  • Anna Karapetyan Director of the Insight Analytical Center for Applied Policy and Research.

Topics:

  • Pashinyan in DC
  • Trump Sanctions the ICC
  • Azerbaijani Diplomacy in Action
  • Workers Strike at Zangezur Mining Co.

Episode 413 | Recorded: February 11, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Effects of the Shutdown of USAID
  • Georgia and the EU
  • Georgia and the South Caucasus

Episode 412 | Recorded: February 9, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Effects of the Shutdown of USAID
  • Georgia and the EU
  • Georgia and the South Caucasus

Episode 412 | Recorded: February 9, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • The Ongoing conflicts: Gaza, Syria, Ukraine
  • Shifting Global Power and Alliances
  • Small Countries in a Multipolar World

Episode 411 | Recorded: February 6, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • The Ongoing conflicts: Gaza, Syria, Ukraine
  • Shifting Global Power and Alliances
  • Small Countries in a Multipolar World

Episode 411 | Recorded: February 6, 2025

The Ongoing conflicts: Gaza, Syria, Ukraine. Shifting Global Power and Alliances. Small Countries in a Multipolar World.

Guest:

Topics:

  • MPG Poll: Pashinyan’s Rating Tanks
  • Russia Azerbaijan Relations Deteriorating
  • Armenia’s Strategic Geopolitical Balancing
  • Azerbaijan and the “Zangezur Corridor”

Episode 410 | Recorded: February 3, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • MPG Poll: Pashinyan’s Rating Tanks
  • Russia Azerbaijan Relations Deteriorating
  • Armenia’s Strategic Geopolitical Balancing
  • Azerbaijan and the “Zangezur Corridor”

Episode 410 | Recorded: February 3, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Who was Kirk Kerkorian?
  • How Kerkorian Discovered Armenia
  • Investing in Armenia
  • End of Investments and Death of Kerkorian

Episode 409 | Recorded: January 21, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Who was Kirk Kerkorian?
  • How Kerkorian Discovered Armenia
  • Investing in Armenia
  • End of Investments and Death of Kerkorian

Episode 409 | Recorded: January 21, 2025

Who was Kirk Kerkorian? How Kerkorian Discovered Armenia. Investing in Armenia. End of Investments and Death of Kerkorian.

Guest:

Topics:

  • Mirzoyan in Moscow
  • Vahan Kostanyan in Tehran
  • Mher Grigoryan on the Border (concessions)
  • FIS Annual Report 2025
  • The Silence of the Lambs

Episode 408 | Recorded: January 29, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Mirzoyan in Moscow
  • Vahan Kostanyan in Tehran
  • Mher Grigoryan on the Border (concessions)
  • FIS Annual Report 2025
  • The Silence of the Lambs

Episode 408 | Recorded: January 29, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Russo-Iranian Partnership Treaty
  • Implications of 🇷🇺 - 🇮🇷 pact for Armenia
  • Trump Back in Office: War or Peace?

Episode 407 | Recorded: January 25, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Russo-Iranian Partnership Treaty
  • Implications of 🇷🇺 - 🇮🇷 pact for Armenia
  • Trump Back in Office: War or Peace?

Episode 407 | Recorded: January 25, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Trump Inauguration
  • Russian-Iranian Strategic Partnership
  • UK-Ukrainian 100-Year Partnership
  • US-Armenian “Strategic Partnership”

Episode 406 | Recorded: January 20, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Trump Inauguration
  • Russian-Iranian Strategic Partnership
  • UK-Ukrainian 100-Year Partnership
  • US-Armenian “Strategic Partnership”

Episode 406 | Recorded: January 20, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • President Joseph Aoun
  • Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam
  • The Changing Face of the Middle East
  • Armenian Community’s and Joseph Aoun

Episode 405 | Recorded: Januaqry 19, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • President Joseph Aoun
  • Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam
  • The Changing Face of the Middle East
  • Armenian Community’s and Joseph Aoun

Episode 405 | Recorded: Januaqry 19, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Incoming Trump Admin
  • Armenia Azerbaijan Talks Stalled
  • Iran Security Chief Visit
  • Armenia’s Pro-West Signals

Episode 404 | Recorded: January 14, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Incoming Trump Admin
  • Armenia Azerbaijan Talks Stalled
  • Iran Security Chief Visit
  • Armenia’s Pro-West Signals

Episode 404 | Recorded: January 14, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Pashinyan’s Lies on Decades of Negotiations
  • 17 Points to an Agreement
  • 2024 Review and 2025 Outlook

Episode 403 | Recorded: December 31, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Pashinyan’s Lies on Decades of Negotiations
  • 17 Points to an Agreement
  • 2024 Review and 2025 Outlook

Episode 403 | Recorded: December 31, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Arrest, one year in prison
  • Pre-trial detention as punishment
  • Selective “justice” against opposition members
  • The silence of the West

Episode 402 | Recorded: November 7, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Arrest, one year in prison
  • Pre-trial detention as punishment
  • Selective “justice” against opposition members
  • The silence of the West

Episode 402 | Recorded: November 7, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenian Azerbaijani Stalled Talks
  • Fall of Syria
  • Defense Politics
  • Un-Civil Strife

Episode 401 | Recorded: December 24, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenian Azerbaijani Stalled Talks
  • Fall of Syria
  • Defense Politics
  • Un-Civil Strife

Episode 401 | Recorded: December 24, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • U.S. Imperialism
  • The Role of the Think Tank Industry

Episode 400 | Recorded: December 20, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • U.S. Imperialism
  • The Role of the Think Tank Industry

Episode 400 | Recorded: December 20, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Syria’s Fall and Regional Power Shifts
  • Turkey’s Expanding Influence in Syria
  • Impact on Armenia-Azerbaijan Relations
  • Russia and Iran’s Middle East Strategy

Episode 399 | Recorded: December 19, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Syria’s Fall and Regional Power Shifts
  • Turkey’s Expanding Influence in Syria
  • Impact on Armenia-Azerbaijan Relations
  • Russia and Iran’s Middle East Strategy

Episode 399 | Recorded: December 19, 2024

Guest:

  • Anna Karapetyan Director of the Insight Analytical Center for Applied Policy and Research.

Topics:

  • Is Azerbaijan Preparing for War?
  • Pashinyan’s Deceptive Discourse on Talks with Azerbaijan
  • Are Armenans Aware of the Dangers facing the Nation?
  • Swiss Parliamentary Motion on Artsakh Armenians’ Right of Return

Episode 398 | Recorded: December 17, 2024

Guest:

  • Anna Karapetyan Director of the Insight Analytical Center for Applied Policy and Research.

Topics:

  • Is Azerbaijan Preparing for War?
  • Pashinyan’s Deceptive Discourse on Talks with Azerbaijan
  • Are Armenans Aware of the Dangers facing the Nation?
  • Swiss Parliamentary Motion on Artsakh Armenians’ Right of Return

Episode 398 | Recorded: December 17, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Memories of the Artsakh Blockade
  • Ethnic Cleansing
  • Trump Returns to the White House

Episode 397 | Recorded: December 18, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Memories of the Artsakh Blockade
  • Ethnic Cleansing
  • Trump Returns to the White House

Episode 397 | Recorded: December 18, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Syria and the Middle East
  • The South Caucasus
  • Turkey, Iran, Russia

Episode 396 | Recorded: December 13, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Syria and the Middle East
  • The South Caucasus
  • Turkey, Iran, Russia

Episode 396 | Recorded: December 13, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Syria and the Middle East
  • The South Caucasus
  • Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance
  • 44-Day War and the ISR Factor
  • Fueling Other Wars

Episode 395 | Recorded: December 12, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Syria and the Middle East
  • The South Caucasus
  • Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance
  • 44-Day War and the ISR Factor
  • Fueling Other Wars

Episode 395 | Recorded: December 12, 2024